Impact of Yoga as an Add-On Intervention on Neurocognitive Functions Among Adult Athletes: A Pilot Study
Naveen Gowrapura Halappa, Kamlesh Jha, U Vijayabanu, Harishankar Singh
Cureus September 6, 2023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44797 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Non-randomized, two-armed parallel-group, single-blind comparative trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 29 |
| Population | Athletes |
| Interventions | pranayama relaxation |
| Duration | One-month intervention (yoga training three days a week for two months is mentioned, but assessment after one month) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Memory span Neurocognitive Physical therapy Cognition Athletes Trail making test Intervention counseling Clinical psychology Audiology Neuropsychology Working memory |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Yoga combined with sports activity improved performance on Trail Making Test A and B and RAVLT total scores compared to sports alone, though between-group differences were not significant except for trends in digit span forward and RAVLT distraction. |
Abstract
Background: Athletes are vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries and psychiatric conditions. Previous studies have reported the benefits of yoga on cognitive functions among healthy children, adults, and the elderly. This pilot study aimed to test the neurocognitive functions among athletes with/without yoga intervention.
Methods: A non-randomized, two-armed parallel-group, single-blind comparative trial was used. The participants were grouped into (i) yoga with sports activity (YSA, n = 15) and (ii) sports activity alone (SA, n = 14). The subjects were assessed at the baseline and after a one-month intervention using digit span forward (DSF), digit span backward (DSB), Trail Making Test (TMT) A & B, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). A comprehensive one-hour yoga training three days a week for two months constitutes selected asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), relaxation techniques, and meditation techniques. The control group constitutes the routine sports activity for the same period.
Results: A paired sample t-test showed a significant improvement in cognitive performance on TMT A & B duration and RAVLT total score in the YSA group compared with the SA group. However, a significant trend was observed for DSF, DSB, and RAVLT immediate recall. Independent sample t-test (pre-post change scores) showed no significant group difference in cognitive performance, except there was a significant trend observed related to DSF (p = 0.053) and RAVLT distraction (p = 0.09), where the yoga group showed better performance in cognitive functions.
Conclusion: The results suggest that yoga may be integrated with sports to enhance neurocognitive functions.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Functional brain mapping of the relaxation response and meditation Neuroreport May 1, 2000
- Impact of Prajñā yoga on cognition in adolescents with congenital and adventitious visual impairment. Explore 2022
- Default Mode Network, Meditation, and Age-Associated Brain Changes: What Can We Learn from the Impact of Mental Training on Well-Being as a Psychotherapeutic Approach? Journal of Neural Transplantation and Plasticity April 2, 2019
- Changes in p300 following two yoga-based relaxation techniques. International Journal of Neuroscience December 2006